The final spots for the GSOC HearingLife National are up for grabs this weekend at the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic.
The Satellite qualifier is now underway, featuring 15 men's teams and 15 women's teams.
For teams that have already secured their spots, the tour stop will serve as a warm-up before heading straight to Sydney.
Here's everything you need to know.
What's at stake?
The Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic winners will qualify for the HearingLife National, Nov. 17-22 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The Grand Slam of Curling presented by Molson Canadian event features 16 teams in the men’s and women’s divisions: the top 12 teams from the world rankings, two sponsors' exemptions and two Satellite qualifiers.
If the winning team is already in the field, the series will reallocate the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic qualifier berth to the highest-finishing eligible team.
Teams that advance to the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic playoffs will also earn points toward qualification for the GSOC KIOTI Players' Cup, Dec. 15-20, at Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, Ontario.
Where can I watch?
Livestreaming is on YouTube via Maritime Athletic Profiles.
What's the format?
Both divisions are split into three pools of five teams for the preliminary round.
Six teams qualify for the playoffs, with two teams receiving byes to the semifinals.
Which teams are playing in the event?
Men's Division: Asselin, Camm, Grattan, Hebert, Hösli*, Kean, Krats, MacIsaac, Maeda, Mooibroek, Y. Schwaller*, Thompson, Waddell*, Yamaguchi*, Zisa
Women's Division: Black*, Duncan, Forsythe, Fujisawa*, Ha, Henderson, Kelly, Kim*, Kitazawa, Kobayashi*, MacMillan, Nihira*, Pätz*, Park*, Stevens
* = Already qualified for the HearingLife National.
Teams to watch
• Team Yannick Schwaller of Switzerland should be the favourite on the men's side as the world No. 1. Schwaller has one Grand Slam title and two other tour title wins this season and most recently reached the semifinals of the P&H Masters this past weekend in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
• Switzerland's Marco Hösli has played in just about every Satellite event as his team needed to find an alternate route to get back into the Grand Slams. Hösli has reached back-to-back semifinals in the top-flight series and continues to lead the points race for the KIOTI Players' Cup.
• Japan's Team Takumi Maeda earned a spot in the Co-op Invitational by qualifying as the runners-up at the Karuizawa International. Could they do it again?
• Alina Pätz and her Swiss squad lead the KIOTI Players' Cup points race on the women's side, thanks to title wins in three Satellite events. Could another trophy be in the cards?
• Japan's Team Ikue Kitazawa qualified for the playoffs for the first time in a GSOC event at the P&H Masters. Kitazawa defeated Pätz in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Team Isabella Wranå of Sweden in the semis. Kitazawa has been on a roll, finishing runner-up the week before in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. With seven teams already heading to Sydney, Kitazawa should be the front-runner for the women's qualifier spot.
• Miku Nihira and her Japanese team are in mid-season form, as they should be, considering this is their 11th event of the season. Nihira reached her first GSOC final at the P&H Masters and could carry that momentum.
